Deputy Defense Secretary Paul D. Wolfowitz and other senior American officials have accused the pan-Arab media of broadcasting material that they consider "incitement" that could lead to further attacks on U.S. troops in Iraq. The American administration in Baghdad temporarily shut down an Iraqi newspaper for the same reason recently.

It's not surprising that Wolfowitz and friends are seeking culprits to blame for the daily, often deadly, attacks. But from my vantage point inside the Arab media in a region plagued by occupations and ideological battlegrounds, Washington's "incitement" charges are childishly unconvincing.

The accusations show just how different are the U.S. and Arab perceptions of the difficult situation in Iraq. But they probably reveal even more about the tortured mind-set of Wolfowitz and vintage American neocons who successfully launched America's war against Iraq but now find themselves flailing at enemy ghosts that torment and elude them. There is something pitiful about a person of Wolfowitz's stature, experience and power responding to the regular killings of young Americans in Iraq by lashing out against Arab satellite TV channels like Al Jazeera and Al Arabiya.

Reacting to 9/11, our leaders declared us at war and took the road more traveled by -- the road of a primarily military and essentially unilateral response. Billions were immediately added to the military budget and we began speeding down the road of violence and war.

Sept. 11 was used as a marketing device to sell a basket of questionable products, including not only two preemptive wars but also an untested missile defense, denigration of the United Nations and of governments that refused to join the coalition of the bribed and bullied, resumption of efforts to develop more effective tactical nuclear weapons, and a host of measures deemed essential for homeland security.

Although all this evoked the overwhelming support of Congress and the cheers of millions of flag-waving Americans, I believe that there was from the start another road "less traveled by" that would have been a far wiser way. Imagine the difference it would have made if our leaders:

• Had understood and proclaimed 9/11 not as a war against the United States but as a crime against humanity.

• Had grasped the reality that international terrorism is a global problem that requires a global solution.

• Had affirmed the United Nations and promised additional support to help make it a more effective means of creating and maintaining global security.

• Had not said to the nations of the world, "Are you with us or against us?" but "We will stand with you in a united effort to confront and eradicate terrorism."

• Had affirmed the International Criminal Court and pledged our support to enhance its ability to deal with terrorists and others who commit crimes against humanity.

• Had supported other international agreements such as those designed to protect the environment and diminish racism.

• Had been honest in answering the question, "Why do they hate us?" instead of arrogantly asserting that they hate us because we are so good, so successful and so free.

• Had been willing to confess and to change policies, especially concerning the Middle East, that have been less than perfect and have evoked understandable resentment.

• Had redirected those added billions for the military into efforts to drain the swamps of poverty, hunger, illness, oppression and despair that are the breeding ground for more hatred and terrorism.

• Had declared that our borders are open to international inspection and that we will significantly reduce and, within a global security system, eventually eliminate our own weapons of mass destruction.

A year ago, American General John Abizaid published an internal Defense Department book about urban warfare. Abizaid’s “Doctrine for Joint Urban Operations” (see sidebar) was all but ignored by Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld and General Tommy Franks, who ran the Iraq war and the initial postwar occupation.

Abizaid wrote about the massive troop requirements for urban warfare; warned of rapid burnout of soldiers and equipment assigned to urban battlegrounds; and time and again referenced catastrophic instances of over-confidence and under-preparedness among commanders and of disastrous misunderstandings of local cultures and their motivations. He also stressed how “essential” it is that “law enforcement” and other “routine activities” be “returned to civilian agencies as quickly as possible.”

Abizaid was brought in a month ago to clean up the mess created by Franks and Rumsfeld. But it might be too late.

Colin Powell has the toughest job in Washington. He's been asked to go back to the UN the Chickenhawk Cabal gleefully wrote off as irrelevant, and beg for assistance.

But the kicker, of course, is that Bush is not willing to offer any concessions in exchange for international treasure and blood. This isn't going over well anywhere. Just a tiny sampling of what's being said. ...